Is the Einhell TP-MG 18 Li BL cordless multi tool deserving of your hard-earned cash? I take it for a spin to find out

The beauty of a multi tool is that you get good value for money. It can tackle a whole host of DIY jobs with a single tool, so no need to splash out on multiple power tools. It's a smart and sensible choice for any DIYer, but even more so for those just getting started.

But it's not just novice DIYers that can benefit from a decent multi tool. Seasoned do-it-yourselfers will find a use for it as well. All you need is the right blades or attachment to tackle the task at hand.

Here, I run the Einhell TP-MG 18 Li BLCordless Multifunctional Tool through a gamut of tests to see just how well it works, and whether it's worth your hard-earned cash.

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Where to buy

Specification and features

• Motor: Brushless motor
• Weight: 0.8kg
• Sandpaper size: 93 x 93 x 93mm.
• Angle of oscillation: 3.2 degrees
• No load speed: 11000 - 22000/min
• Oscillating speed: 22000 - 40000/min
• Warranty: 10 years
• Features: 1 x sanding shoe with hook-and-loop fastening, 1 x diamond segment saw blade for tile grouting, 1 x segment saw blade (HSS) for wood, plastic, soft metal, 1 x plunge saw blade (BIM) for metal, 1 x plunge saw blade (HCS) for wood and plastic, 1 x scraper, 9 x sandpapers (3 x P60, 3 x P80, 3 x P120).

First impressions

I say the same thing almost every time, but the excitement of unboxing a power tool for the first time never leaves me. It’s been a while since I’ve had a new multi tool, which added to the excitement, and my interaction with Einhell power tools has always been positive… so far.

First impressions were good; the packaging was recyclable, and there wasn’t much of it. Just enough to protect the tool, along with a simple cardboard box to store the accessories. A QR code on the box redirected to the Einhell website for more info, prices and available accessories. Simple, but effective.

First out of the box were the accessories. Included were blades for wood and metal, a scraper blade, segment (round) saw blades for removing tile grouting and for cutting wood, plastic, and soft metal, and a sanding pad with 9 sandpaper pads in three different grades. Pretty much everything you’ll need to start using the multi tool immediately.

What I did notice before I even lifted the multi tool out of the box was a lack of a carry bag or case. I would have been happy with either. The box will be taking up that mantle for now. More importantly, there’s no battery or charger, so there will be additional costs for those who don’t already own a tool from the Einhell Power X-Change collection, many of which you can find on Amazon.

The unit itself was solid, lightweight and well-balanced. The well-placed rubber grip gave the impression that the Einhell would be secure and comfortable to use. Subtly etched into the grip were the words 'anti-vibration'. This heightened my anticipation and hope that it would work well.

Another feature neatly placed on the top of the tool was a speed dial. This ranged from 1-6. I set it to one to ease myself into using the tool. Keeping it company was a well-placed and sizeable on/off button. Finally, there was the quick-release handle at the front of the tool. I had a quick play with it, and it wasn’t the easiest to use; you've got to put some effort in to get it working. It's worth noting that other brands use different connection methods, I would say some easier than the Einhell. However, once I got used to it, it wasn’t an issue.

Set up

There are pretty much only two steps to setting up a cordless multi tool. Add battery then your preferred blade or attachment and you're ready to go.

If you’re new to using a cordless multi tool, make sure to add the blade or attachment first. You don’t want the tool to burst into life when your hands or any other body part are in the vicinity. It will be painful, I promise you. The quick-release handle is there to enable toolless attachment, but it's not the easiest option I’ve seen for attaching a blade. You need to give the handle some muscle power to get it into the unlock position.

Once you have, adding a blade to the 12-pin tool adapter is straightforward and allows you to choose the position you want. Ideal when tackling harder-to-reach areas. When in position, simply close the quick-release handle to secure it. There is a bit of snap back on the handle, so be careful. However, once I got used to it, it was easy to use.

There is a small metal disk supplied to help hold open back blades and attachments in place. This offers greater compatibility and the option to buy other brands. The only problem I had was that I was convinced that I was going to lose it. Luckily, I haven’t yet.

It's worth noting that the Einhell is incompatible with the Starlock system you get on other tools. But don’t panic, this won’t be an issue for DIYers. And it's easy enough to buy compatible blades and attachments, such as the Original Einhell XL-Plus-CASE 35-Piece Multi-Tool Set from Amazon.

Finally, before I added my 4.0Ah battery, I gave it a full charge to get the most out of the tool. Adding the battery is as simple as it gets. Slide in, and it clicks into place. You’re ready to go.

Performance

The Einhell TP-MG 18 Li BL multi tool comes with a collection of blades and attachments, pretty much something for every DIY job you’ll need a multi tool for.

To kick off, I used the wood/plastic blade to cut through architrave at ground level, ready for new flooring. I started with the speed dial set at one (the lowest level). The Einhell worked effectively, if not efficiently, so I upped the speed dial to three. This cut through the architrave with ease. Upping the speed to six (the highest level) made it even quicker. But assuming this would use more battery power, I was keen to keep it at a mid-range level. It's worth noting that the Einhell isn’t excessively loud for a multi tool, but it's not quiet either.

Next, it was cutting out a few shapes to get a couple of lengths of timber to fit around my side gate lock and ensure my garden fencing fitted well. Again, this was a breeze. Next, I tried it on some plastic plumbing pipe, no problems. A switch to the metal blade saw easily cut through some thin metal sheeting. It took more effort for thicker metal, but in reality, when cutting a lot of metal, you would use a more specialist tool.

For the larger-segment wood saw blade, I cut into a hardwood plank to fit around some pipework. This took more effort, even with the dial set at six, and created a little smoke. However, this would be the same for any multi tool.

This left me with the grout removal blade, scraper and sander. The grout removal blade did its job with no fuss, quickly and neatly removing narrow grout lines. To give the blade a more thorough test, I tried removing mortar ready for repointing. This was a slow process, but again, another tool is better suited to heavier-duty work. In this case I would typically use my angle grinder.

The scraper and sander worked exactly as I expected. I tried it to help remove self-adhesive vinyl planks and paint from door frames and doors, then sanded the floors and frames. Again, this was effective and efficient. What I noticed when tackling a job, whatever the blade or attachment, was how well the anti-vibration feature worked. It was more prominent at the lower levels, but at the top end, it was hardly noticeable, allowing longer working time without feeling the effects.

The last thing to mention is the neat thin LED light on the front. It lights up the blade or attachment well, but there’s no option to switch off. Which means it's always on, even when there’s no need. It’s a small point, but I would have liked the option.

Battery lfe

As with any cordless power tool, battery life is important. No DIYer wants a battery that takes forever to charge, can’t hold its charge or is underpowered. As I already mentioned, this Einhell multi tool doesn’t come with a battery or charger. So, for clarity and context, I am using an Einhell PXC 4.0Ah SEALED battery (available on Amazon), but it will add significantly to the multi tool's cost.

There are other options, such as the Einhell 18V 4.0Ah Plus Lithium-Ion Battery and Charger Set from Amazon. However, if you already own a compatible Einhell power tool, you can ignore this cost.

The official runtime for a 4.0Ah battery (according to their website) is around 68 minutes. So how did this compare with my experience? I'm not sure the battery hit 68 minutes, but it wasn’t far off, so plenty of runtime. I always recommend you have a second battery charged so you can swap when needed. Which, if you did have the same, you’ll have over three hours of runtime, plenty for any DIY tasks you’re tackling.

Once I had drained the battery, it was time to recharge. I used an Einhell Power X-Charger 3A, which conveniently has a charging time overview chart on the back. This indicated 75 minutes for a 4.0Ah battery. My battery took around 70 minutes to fully charge. Good to see accurate timings. A similar charger - the Power X-Fastcharger 4A - is available from the Einhell site for £30. The charger is easy to use with red and green LEDs indicating whether the battery is charging or fully charged. A trio of blue lights - activated by a quick push of a button- lets you know what's happening.

Final verdict

A multi tool is a great addition to a DIYer's toolkit, and I have no hesitation in recommending the Einhell TP-MG 18 Li BL Cordless Multitool. Admittedly, it doesn’t come with a battery or charger, so this will add nearly 50% to the overall cost. Obviously, not an issue if you already own another Einhell tool in the Power X-Change family. But I wouldn’t recommend a single battery for more than one tool. I would invest in at least a second, which would add to the cost again. However, it is ideal if you own other Einhell tools, such as this Einhell TP-CD 18/50 cordless drill that I also tested and found to be a great addition to my tool box.

The tool itself is straightforward to use; however, while the quick-release system does the job, I’ve seen easier-to-use options on some of the other best multi tools. But don’t let this put you off what is a good all-round multi tool.

The anti-vibration setup worked a treat, especially at higher speeds, and the inclusion of blades and attachments means you can tackle the tasks the tool was intended for. There’s little to dislike, though a carry case/bag would have been a simple addition, and apart from a few minor flaws, you are getting a great multi tool.